Ronelle is an expert in all aspects of employment law, having specialised in the area for over 20 years. Her work includes assisting clients with complex compliance and interpersonal matters.

She also leads our merger and acquisition practice, where we are instructed by other law firms, and corporate clients directly, to advise on the employment law aspects of some of NZ’s most high-profile corporate transactions.  This corporate support work is a busy and important part of LangtonHudson’s practice.

“Ronelle is excellent with strategy in complex situations, with the ability to understand and analyse the real issues. She presents solutions that support our approach in a very ethical manner.”

— Chambers and Partners Guide 2025

‘It is the team that makes the company stand out. Ronelle Tomkinson and her team are responsive and provide very practical and sensible advice.’

— The Legal 500 2025

University of Auckland, BCom, LLB (Hons) (2004)
Barrister and Solicitor of the High Court of New Zealand
Member, New Zealand Law Society
Member, The Law Association

Partner, LangtonHudson, Lawyers 2018 – present
Senior Associate, LangtonHudson, Lawyers, 2009 – 2018
Solicitor, Russell McVeagh, 2005 – 2009

Contentious

• Counsel for the successful respondent in test case proceedings on the meaning of a “shift” under section 67G of the Employment Relations Act 2000.
• Counsel for the intervener in Gill Pizza Ltd and Ors v A Labour Inspector of the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment [2021] NZSC 157 (Supreme Court) in litigation about employment status and minimum standards.
• Counsel for the successful plaintiffs in Schollum & Hastings v Corporate Consumables Ltd [2017] NZEmpC 115 (Employment Court) in a group action about underpaid annual holiday pay.
• Counsel for the defendant in proceedings removed to the Employment Court in Maritime Union of New Zealand Inc v China Navigation Company Pte Ltd [2016] NZEmpC 111, a case on the extent to which an employer is required to bargain with a union for a collective agreement in a Greenfields situation, before the union has any member employees.
• Counsel for a defendant in test case proceedings in the Human Rights Review Tribunal, in which the lawfulness of its actions to manage breastfeeding on private property were challenged.*
• Counsel for a vehicle rental operator in TRA Decision 4/2009 [2009] TXHNZ 7 (Taxation Review Authority) who successfully argued its relocation drivers were independent contractors (not employees).*
• Counsel for the defendant in Eastern Bay Independent Industrial Workers Union Inc v ABB Ltd [2008] ERNZ 537 (Employment Court) who successfully defended a claim of automatic passing on of terms and conditions in a collective agreement.*

Non-Contentious

• Advising Edwards Lifesciences on its sale of Critical Care Product Group to Becton, Dickinson and Company (2024) for USD4.2 billion.
• Advising Pernod Ricard on its sale of key wine brand portfolios to Australian Wine Holdco Ltd (2024).
• Advising Green Cross Health on its sale of Access Community Health (2023) for NZD50 million.
• Advising Allegro Funds on its purchase of Gull (2022) for NZD572 million.
• Advising Anchorage Capital Partners on its purchase of Evolve Education (2022) for NZD46 million.
• Advising Vontier on its purchase of Invenco (2022).
• Involvement in the Film Industry Working Group’s work with Government on preparing the Screen Industry Workers Act 2022 which introduced new minimum standards and collective bargaining rights for screen workers.
• Advising Unity Technologies on its purchase of Weta Digital (2021) for USD1.625 billion.

*Denotes work prior to joining LangtonHudson